Would you fight if there was another world war?

[matty_f]

With Trump playing fast and loose with global conflicts “resolution” and cosying up to Russia, it’s not inconceivable that tensions could escalate and Britain gets pulled into conflict.

Would you fight if called up? I sort of hope that it wouldn’t reach the point where civilians are called up but if you look at the casualties from the Ukraine invasion, it’s unlikely that the army’s current size would be sufficient.

Would you volunteer for it or sign up if conscripted?

[danhibees1875]

I wouldn't sign up, and I'd do what I could to make myself exempt from conscription.

[Bostonhibby]

With Trump playing fast and loose with global conflicts “resolution” and cosying up to Russia, it’s not inconceivable that tensions could escalate and Britain gets pulled into conflict.

Would you fight if called up? I sort of hope that it wouldn’t reach the point where civilians are called up but if you look at the casualties from the Ukraine invasion, it’s unlikely that the army’s current size would be sufficient.

Would you volunteer for it or sign up if conscripted?

I'd like to see what politicians and their backers who ferment war do, and what their children and family do first.

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[Scorrie]

I’m too auld (!) but if it was something I believed in I would try to make myself useful doing something

[Berwickhibby]

Thankfully I am to auld to be called up for the regular army, but I think I would make a great Captain Mainwaring in the Home Guard :greengrin :greengrin

[Bristolhibby]

I’m too old, but I have two boys who aren’t. 16 and 13. Selfishly I’d try anything to protect them. Bar Russian tanks in the streets, how can it be worth it? We aren’t connected as a country anymore. Jingoism is dead. Somebody was to give me a white feather I’d just say thanks.

I truly thought we were behind global conflict.

It’s hard to justify sending our children off to Ukraine. Especially when our “friends” across the Atlantic want to wash their hands of Europe and their place in Global politics for at least 4 years.

Trump seems to forget that the world is connected. A move there ripples through across the globe. A tariff here, an ignoring of Putin there impacts.

America can’t go it alone. Else they will run out of friends and trading partners rather quickly.

J

Edit - absolutely insane that we are even having this conversation.

[Pretty Boy]

I like Harry Patch's view and I'll trust the judgment of a man who actually saw service in a brutal war over some war fetishists today:

'Politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves'.

I'll sign up right after Donald Jnr, Eric and Barron do their stint.

[lapsedhibee]

With Trump playing fast and loose with global conflicts “resolution” and cosying up to Russia, it’s not inconceivable that tensions could escalate and Britain gets pulled into conflict.

Would you fight if called up? I sort of hope that it wouldn’t reach the point where civilians are called up but if you look at the casualties from the Ukraine invasion, it’s unlikely that the army’s current size would be sufficient.

Would you volunteer for it or sign up if conscripted?

Would there be any point in trying to formally resist a Trump/Putin axis of evil? Wouldn't they between them have too much in the way of resources to fight against? Would certainly be up for keying Teslas in any ongoing guerrilla activity though.

[Berwickhibby]

Would there be any point in trying to formally resist a Trump/Putin axis of evil? Wouldn't they between them have too much in the way of resources to fight against? Would certainly be up for keying Teslas in any ongoing guerrilla activity though.

Keying someone’s Tesla is pathetic…won’t affect Musk in the slightest, just the poor owner who bought a car. Probably mean more money for Musk’s operation as the repairs would be likely to be done in a Tesla approved franchise

[lapsedhibee]

Keying someone’s Tesla is pathetic…won’t affect Musk in the slightest, just the poor owner who bought a car. Probably mean more money for Musk’s operation as the repairs would be likely to be done in a Tesla approved franchise

Wasn't being serious.

Poor owner though, I don't think so.

[Stairway 2 7]

NATO has around 3.5 million soldiers and more reserves. The chances of civilians getting called up is ridiculous. NATO also doesn't have 1970s gear like Ukraine it has 600 f35 jets that would end the Russian military in a weekend.

If in another world there was a ground invasion into Scotland like Ukraine suffered then yes I'd fight rather than have genocide and rape befall my family. I think the Bucha massacre put any doubts out of Ukrainians heads. Mass rapes and mass graves would be the price of pacifism

[lapsedhibee]

I like Harry Patch's view and I'll trust the judgment of a man who actually saw service in a brutal war over some war fetishists today:

'Politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves'.

I'll sign up right after Donald Jnr, Eric and Barron do their stint.

Might be reading you wrong, but are you assuming there that you'd be fighting on the same side as MAGA?

[Pretty Boy]

Might be reading you wrong, but are you assuming there that you'd be fighting on the same side as MAGA?

I think in this entirely hypothetical scenario that would be the side you would expect the UK to be on, no?

If the question was would you join a resistance my answer may well have been different.

[Smartie]

With Trump playing fast and loose with global conflicts “resolution” and cosying up to Russia, it’s not inconceivable that tensions could escalate and Britain gets pulled into conflict.

Would you fight if called up? I sort of hope that it wouldn’t reach the point where civilians are called up but if you look at the casualties from the Ukraine invasion, it’s unlikely that the army’s current size would be sufficient.

Would you volunteer for it or sign up if conscripted?

I'd make a decision based on my moral evaluation of the conflict.

I'm too old to be much use fighting on a front line but I do have "skills" that may be of use a little bit further back. If I believed in the conflict then I'd have no hesitation, and I don't think it's a big stretch to imagine myself agreeing with a conflict with Russia or maybe even the USA. This comes from a position of having been a fairly avowed pacifist 5 years or so ago, the world has totally changed.

The Ukrainians have sent quite a lot of older folk away to fight - not wanting to wipe out an entire generation of youth. And whilst there are soldiers still needed, there's quite a lot of lobbing drones from a distance etc going on now.

I'd certainly be much happier going myself, having enjoyed a youth in a free world and already having had a good life than seeing my son (still only 18 months old so not exactly an urgent problem) be sent off to be cannon fodder aged 16 or whatever.

[lapsedhibee]

I think in this entirely hypothetical scenario that would be the side you would expect the UK to be on, no?


At the moment, no. In a war of autocrats v democrats, Trump would not be on the side of democrats. The EU would be. I'd hope the UK would be with the EU.

[Ozyhibby]

The reason I’m so keen for Ukraine to win is so that we don’t have to fight the Russians closer to home and either of my boys involved.
As things stand though, Europe has enough to deal with Russia without a mobilisation. Would be a little short on some logistics without the US but still have enough.


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[The Modfather]

I’d always liked to think I would fight, or certainly aid the war effort in some form but potentially closer to a pacifist and unwilling to kill people. In reality now that I’m a father I think the reality is I would likely choose being a father over going to war and likely not coming back.

[Paul1642]

NATO has around 3.5 million soldiers and more reserves. The chances of civilians getting called up is ridiculous. NATO also doesn't have 1970s gear like Ukraine it has 600 f35 jets that would end the Russian military in a weekend.

If in another world there was a ground invasion into Scotland like Ukraine suffered then yes I'd fight rather than have genocide and rape befall my family. I think the Bucha massacre put any doubts out of Ukrainians heads. Mass rapes and mass graves would be the price of pacifism

I think this hits the nail on the head. I know the thread is purely hypothetical but if NATO and Russia go to war, NATO wipe the floor with Russia in no time without any sort of draft, even without the USA (and I don’t think Trump being president is enough to stop USA being involved).

There are a handful of NATO countries who could as an alliance defeat Russia (UK, Germany, France, Turkey, Italy) let alone the combined might of all 32. There are also powerful non NATO counties such as South Korea and Japan who would be considered friendly.

The elephant in the room would be Nuclear weapons, and India’s position would be interesting.

Now a hypothetical war with China could be a completely different matter.

Opinions on Isreal are obviously polarising but them playing a role in keeping Iran from being involved would also be important.

Finally, the days of superior infantry numbers winning wars is in its twilight. Without doubling the equipment and specialist training, doubling the number of NATO troops through a draft wouldn’t add a huge amount to combat effectiveness.

[marinello59]

I’d probably just stay in and watch it on the TV.

[Hibby70]

I’d probably just stay in and watch it on the TV.

It would be PPV so I'll keep my IPTV for now. Mind you not sure I want to listen to Michael Stewart going on about the SAS lack of identity.

[danhibees1875]

I’d probably just stay in and watch it on the TV.

I'd be too busy not fighting at the AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons game.

[Northernhibee]

No.

As dark as this may be, I’d rather turn a gun on myself than another human being if it ever came to that.

[MKHIBEE]

No. I’m too old anyway, and I would hope my 3 boys wouldn’t. Let the clowns who get us in such a position fight it out among themselves

[Hibs4185]

A little bit off topic. I’m moving to France for a couple of years with the wife and kids.

If there was a draft, would I be drafted into the French arm y or be sent home to join the British army?

Or be lucky and avoid it because I’m a Brit in France?

I actually thought about this a couple of weeks ago and had no idea

[Ozyhibby]

A little bit off topic. I’m moving to France for a couple of years with the wife and kids.

If there was a draft, would I be drafted into the French arm y or be sent home to join the British army?

Or be lucky and avoid it because I’m a Brit in France?

I actually thought about this a couple of weeks ago and had no idea

You’d help France surrender first.[emoji6]


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[Keith_M]

You’d help France surrender first.[emoji6]




:faf:

[Hibrandenburg]

I've always said I would only ever take up arms again to fight fascism. Where do I sign up?

On a more serious note, I'm 60 this year so too old to fight on the front line unless it was on my doorstep, but I'd be more than happy to share the skills I've collected with other volunteers.

[Bishop Hibee]

Too old but my 3 boys aren’t. Things would have to be pretty grim for civilians to be called up. If Russia invaded the Baltic states or any of the old Eastern Block countries i could see some form of National Service or a reservist army being trained up.

[Hibs4185]

At least there would be 400,000 jambos ready to sign up

[Bridge hibs]

No chance, Im full time carer for my elderly goldfish 🤔

[SteveHFC]

Would be more concerned if any country launched Nuclear weapons.

[Bridge hibs]

Would be more concerned if any country launched Nuclear weapons.You probably wouldnt have time to be concerned mate if it came to that 🫨

[Keith_M]

You probably wouldnt have time to be concerned mate if it came to that 🫨


I've already got the keys to the Bunker in Fife.

Just looking for some females to join me in my cunning plan to re-populate the planet.

[Bridge hibs]

I've already got the keys to the Bunker in Fife.

Just looking for some females to join me in my cunning plan to re-populate the planet.Can I come please, I have a gun, well ok its a spud gun but I wouldnt fancy getting thumped on the bonce by a high velocity maris piper 😖

[Bridge hibs]

At least there would be 400,000 jambos ready to sign upThose jambo ***** would do anything to get into europe 🤔

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Sign up for the infantry against drones, landmines and air attack ?
I think not. I’d likely fail on medical grounds but like others have kids 17 and 12. And would do anything to protect them.

[SteveHFC]

You probably wouldnt have time to be concerned mate if it came to that 🫨

Would watch SDG goal in the final one last time just before I disappear.

[babahibs]

No.
I've got a bad back.

[Hibs4185]

No.
I've got a bad back.

I’ve got foot splints like Donald trump had. I’m sure that’s what he was diagnosed with to avoid the Vietnam draft?

[Bostonhibby]

I’ve got foot splints like Donald trump had. I’m sure that’s what he was diagnosed with to avoid the Vietnam draft?Yep, people keep telling him he would have been a war hero........

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[Bridge hibs]

Im going to consult with Elvis first to get first hand information from him before I decide

[matty_f]

Im going to consult with Elvis first to get first hand information from him before I decide

Couple of pencils in the nostrils, a hankie over the head and “wibble” tactics?

[Keith_M]

I’ve got foot splints like Donald trump had. I’m sure that’s what he was diagnosed with to avoid the Vietnam draft?


Yep, people keep telling him he would have been a war hero........

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Funnily enough, one of the two doctors that diagnosed this mysterious ailment was called Weinstein.

:hmmm:

[overdrive]

What age do you think would be the upper limit of conscription? I think it was 41 during the two World Wars, so I'd be just inside that limit. I reckon they'd raise it anyway. Are we assuming women would still be exempt?

I wouldn't be much use as I'm obese, deaf in one ear and got dodgy eyesight, though I was quite good at clay pigeon shooting when I did that a few years ago :greengrin

[Paulie Walnuts]

Not a chance.

[matty_f]

What age do you think would be the upper limit of conscription? I think it was 41 during the two World Wars, so I'd be just inside that limit. I reckon they'd raise it anyway. Are we assuming women would still be exempt?

I wouldn't be much use as I'm obese, deaf in one ear and got dodgy eyesight, though I was quite good at clay pigeon shooting when I did that a few years ago :greengrin

I’m 48 this year so would be glad to miss out on age grounds, and I’m hopeless at Call of Duty and that so more likely to be a liability than an asset.

Unfortunately my son’s 22 this year, so would get called up.

[Scouse Hibee]

Nah I’m too old, could possibly join the catering corp and serve fish suppers though! 😂

[JimBHibees]

Thankfully I am to auld to be called up for the regular army, but I think I would make a great Captain Mainwaring in the Home Guard :greengrin :greengrin

:greengrin

Think i could do a pretty good Private Fraser, we are doomed

[JimBHibees]

I've always said I would only ever take up arms again to fight fascism. Where do I sign up?

On a more serious note, I'm 60 this year so too old to fight on the front line unless it was on my doorstep, but I'd be more than happy to share the skills I've collected with other volunteers.

Who would you be fighting though?

[Hibrandenburg]

Who would you be fighting though?

Best ask the OP that, but as things stand it could be either Russian or American fascists and depending on next week's German election, maybe even German ones.

[overdrive]

Who would you be fighting though?

I have a horrible feeling we'd be on the side of the "bad guys"

[matty_f]

I have a horrible feeling we'd be on the side of the "bad guys"

Depends on if it’s NATO which is where the problem lies - Putin might test NATO’s resolve with an attack on one of the smaller, closer countries to Russia and if that happens then Britain are obliged to support but then so are America so we’d be on the same side, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trump make moves to take America out of NATO to side with Russia because he’s a ****ing imbecile.

[Ozyhibby]

Depends on if it’s NATO which is where the problem lies - Putin might test NATO’s resolve with an attack on one of the smaller, closer countries to Russia and if that happens then Britain are obliged to support but then so are America so we’d be on the same side, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trump make moves to take America out of NATO to side with Russia because he’s a ****ing imbecile.

I don’t think Trump has that level of power in the states at the moment.


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[Pagan Hibernia]

At least there would be 400,000 jambos ready to sign up

They've already won one world war, what's one more

[JimBHibees]

Best ask the OP that, but as things stand it could be either Russian or American fascists and depending on next week's German election, maybe even German ones.

Cheers

[chippy]

No.

As dark as this may be, I’d rather turn a gun on myself than another human being if it ever came to that.

Even if they were going to rape or murder your kids , family , friends ?

[wookie70]

I thought I would be too old but the age of conscription was 51 for WW1 and that must be the equivalent of about 60 now so maybe not. I'm very much a pacifist. I've never even punched anyone. Funny I was having this conversation with the wife today and although I don't think I could have killed someone I would have played a part in those causes if needed. My dad was similar and served as an Engineer when conscripted after WW2 had ended. No chance would I fight for the rich this time

I don't think there will be a cause everyone can unite behind in this crazy world. Although I bet half the population thought that before they started becoming Nazis or simply buttoned their lip and hoped to stay out the way. There is no chance you will get the young, who have been atrociously treated by government after government, to fight in a war about which old people get the land, power and money. I'd rather the young started getting the pitchforks sharpened and joined together across the world to try and find a way to equalize society between rich and poor which often means old and young

[CropleyWasGod]

Even if they were going to rape or murder your kids , family , friends ?

It's an interesting question.

But it's always "the other side" that do all that, isn't it? It would be "the other side" who would be saying that about "our boys", no doubt.

[Smartie]

One of my great grandads survived WW1 and was (by all accounts) destroyed by the experience.

Of my grandads, one only became working age / fighting age during WW2 and followed the local tradition of going "doon the pit".

My other grandad served during WW2. He was mainly a driver, drove lorries everywhere. He tells stories of driving through Italy, the lorries had no windscreens (to avoid being shot through the windows) and used to have a soldier on each side hanging out the doors to guide the steering of the person who was driving the lorry blind.

I can't remember the exact circumstances but at one point he did end up in a situation where he had to use the gun and kill someone. It haunted him all his days, and was actually worse when he was very old and on some pain medications which made his dreams particularly vivid and scary.

So all I'm saying is - I think we've all got connections to people who have experienced the horrors of war. "Getting involved" isn't something to take lightly and I don't think anyone who for whatever reason has reservations about it is in any way deserving of criticism or ridicule.

It's ghastly tbh that we've found ourselves back in a situation where this is a reasonable conversation to be having, and given the ample resource that the planet provides us with, it's shameful that we haven't made greater progress towards a situation where these wars no longer exist.

[Ozyhibby]

It's an interesting question.

But it's always "the other side" that do all that, isn't it? It would be "the other side" who would be saying that about "our boys", no doubt.

I guess if the ‘other side’ went home then we wouldn’t need to worry about that. What happened in Bucha is not something I would want happening here.


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[Andy Bee]

WW111 is never going to happen, nope never. If you look back at the factors in 1938 that created WW11 you'd need a world leaning towards the far right, a dictator as the aggressor, appeasement for that very aggressor, looming or in actual recession, supporters of the aggressor with huge swathes of cash and influence like car manufacturer Henry Ford, economical growth at a standstill, etc etc. We're miles away from that. :hmmm:

[Colr]

With Trump playing fast and loose with global conflicts “resolution” and cosying up to Russia, it’s not inconceivable that tensions could escalate and Britain gets pulled into conflict.

Would you fight if called up? I sort of hope that it wouldn’t reach the point where civilians are called up but if you look at the casualties from the Ukraine invasion, it’s unlikely that the army’s current size would be sufficient.

Would you volunteer for it or sign up if conscripted?

Would be in Dad’s Army at my age!

[Andy Bee]

I'd only do it if they handed me the keys to either a Typhoon or an F35 fully fuelled.

[Ozyhibby]

I'd only do it if they handed me the keys to either a Typhoon or an F35 fully fuelled.

Reminds me of Captain Flashheart.[emoji23]


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[Bristolhibby]

Reminds me of Captain Flashheart.[emoji23]


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Woof!

[Andy Bee]

Reminds me of Captain Flashheart.[emoji23]


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:hilarious I was thinking more Russell Casse (Randy Quaid) from Independence Day :greengrin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyOTaHRBTXc

[Keith_M]

:hilarious I was thinking more Russell Casse (Randy Quaid) from Independence Day :greengrin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyOTaHRBTXc



Nah, my role model would be Ace Rimmer!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXYfnWRp1Q0

[Sylar]

I'm unfortunately busy that day...

[SHODAN]

I am not going to war for successive governments who have stripped the welfare state my entire life and given me **** all back.

Maybe all the rich lordlings we've fattened up with our stolen public assets can make themselves useful for once. Off you go. :bye:

[Jones28]

If it meant my kids never having to deal with the mess I absolutely would.

My 4 year old son and 6 year old daughter don't need to deal with this, I would fight if it meant leaving them with safety and security for them and their children.

[One Day Soon]

Fortunately we almost certainly will never have to. That however turns on our capacity to deter the Russians in particular from their expansionist adventurism.

In an age of asymetric warfare where we are effectively already at war with them the contributions that average punters can make are probably closer to the old Home Guard than to infantry or whatever. Western Europe has a **** ton of poisonings, money laundering, literal sabotage, corruption of officials, spying, infiltration of strategically important agencies, stealing or leaking of sensitive information, interference in elections and media, infiltration of political parties, bankrolling of the extreme right, manipulation of migration and God knows what else going on. One of the things that countries opposed to 'the West' do increasingly is to use organised criminal groups here to carry out operations on their behalf. So just being vigilant and aware can be a actually highly effective contribution.

After Ukraine it's already Romania and Moldova's turn to be immediate next. The Baltic states are routinely seeing attempts to drag undersea cables. None of this is going away and with Trump effectively rendering US guarantees within NATO useless it is going to continue and probably escalate. We either invest heavily in deterrence now or we end up having to actually defend, somewhere, later.

[Speedy]

If it got to the point of tanks rolling down Leith Walk then yes, I would.

But I wouldn't go looking for it by volunteering to go off fighting abroad as a puppet for whichever idiot is in charge of the country at the time.

[Moulin Yarns]

I'm 68, so not in the short-term, but if Scotland was invaded then count me in for dad's, or possibly grandads army. 🤣

[Ozyhibby]

I'm 68, so not in the short-term, but if Scotland was invaded then count me in for dad's, or possibly grandads army. [emoji1787]

I’d be up for a bit of fannying about with guns in the countryside while the young team were off doing the actual fighting.[emoji106]


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[Hibs4185]

I’m currently in Manchester airport and the amount of fuds here reassures me that I would never have to fight.

[Ozyhibby]

I’ve never been a gamer either so I wouldn’t even be any use operating drones.[emoji2369]


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[Hibs4185]

If it got to the point of tanks rolling down Leith Walk then yes, I would.

But I wouldn't go looking for it by volunteering to go off fighting abroad as a puppet for whichever idiot is in charge of the country at the time.

Same! I’d wait until they’d flattened Gorgie before signing up though

[Moulin Yarns]

I’d be up for a bit of fannying about with guns in the countryside while the young team were off doing the actual fighting.[emoji106]


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I'm about 90 minutes from spean bridge. If you know, then you know.